Bill Bartley

William J. Bartley, 76, of Bucyrus died early Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at Heartland of Bucyrus. He had dealt with Alzheimer’s Disease for a number of years and recently suffered a stroke.



Bill was born February 21, 1941 in Springfield to the late Dwight and Elsie (Diffendal) Bartley. The Bartley family made their way to Cardington where Bill grew up and graduated from Cardington High School, where he played football and baseball, in 1960. He joined the US Marine Corps that summer and served honorably until discharge in 1964. He married Beverly J. Kelley on February 5, 1966. He worked for the Eaton Corporation until disability forced an early retirement. Bev preceded him in death on September 15, 1987. He was a member of the support group Parents Without Partners where he met Karen (Shull) Schenz of Bucyrus. After a few years of dating, they were married on February 27, 1994 and she survives.



Bill’s family and friends teased that he was a “million-dollar man” after surviving several health issues and surgeries. He loved sports and was a big fan of Ohio State and the Dodgers; but golf was his favorite, even to the point of placing a putting green in his back yard. When he was raising his family, he enjoyed coaching his daughter’s softball team and taking her for hot chocolate at Isaly’s. He was a member of Bucyrus United Methodist Church and AmVets Post 27.



Bill is survived by his wife, Karen Bartley of Bucyrus; daughter, Jennifer Bartley of Marion; stepchildren, Brandon (Sarah) Schenz, Scott (Veronica) Schenz, and Kari Schenz; grandchildren, Jansen, Vaughn, Shawn, Simon, Shiloh, Lilia, Mikyla, Kai, Brooklyn, and Alex; great granddaughter, Oklyn; sisters, Joyce Zawodniak of Anderson, Indiana, Sharon (John) Wyand of Falls Church, Virginia, and Janet Renacs of Dayton; and several nieces and nephews.



In addition to his parents and wife Beverly, Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Severson.



Bill’s funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 14 at 11:00 am with Pastor Becky Smithey officiating at Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus where family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 10-10:50 am. Burial will follow in Grand Prairie Cemetery (Brush Ridge) where military rites will be held by the US Marine Corps and American Legion Post 181 Honor Guards.



Memorial donations may be made payable to Bucyrus UMC or Alzheimer’s Association and given through the funeral home. Memories and photos are encouraged to be shared on Bill’s Tribute Wall.